Last post…
So here we are in the internet cafe for our last post. As I reflect on the past weeks, I fear that I will never be able to find the right words to describe the experiences I have had, or any of us have had, in such a way that you will understand. And even if i somehow did, by some divine miracle, manage to describe our time here with stunning and indisputable accuracy, I fear that one would never be able to understand unless they themselves have experienced the same…
I trust that at some point most of you will be able to converse with one or more of us for those more detailed explanations, for in reality, they are far too long to be posted on a blog page. However, with that said, there is value in corresponding with those who’s prayers have carried us thus far and will ensure our steadfastness in the grace of Christ.
Nsoko:
For the most part, the ladies in our group worked with Julie, a missionary who works with AIM, to make bags with the African ladies there. These bags are to be sold to raise support for the women to live off of. The guys…well, we played casino a bit and carried some boxes, played soccer with orphans and visited some Care Points (girls came to care points also). 
I don’t know what else to say… I could talk about sleeping next to a lion. I could talk about ostriches in our camp, or the rooster at 4 in the morning. I could talk about pythons around our necks and cobras that, had it not been for the glass separating us, would have ensured our demise (…well…sorta…). I could mention crazy diseases amongst the team…well, two of us…(a bout with “ringo the worm” and some other weird disease…ask williams).
I could tell you all about no rain for 8 months, ground so dry it’s cracking, the monopolization of the water by the rich and exploitation of teen girls. I could tell you about bumpy, dirt roads and wind that feels like it’s coming from a hair dryer. Or I could tell you about the love of Christ shown through bible stories and holding children without parents, or much of an apparent future – Kids that smile just because you are looking at them. Maybe these things don’t make the front page of the newspapers, but they mean the world to us who have spent the time to seek them out.
Manzini:
Now for our past week here, we found a new friend at the hope house. His name is Temba. He is HIV+ and doesn’t really look like he is getting better, despite his reassurances that he is. His english is impeccable and he loves the Lord with all his heart. He has made quite an impact on me, and I think I would be most content with the rest of our visits there to spend all of my time with him. He is 30 years old, with 2 kids and a fiance back home. He is quite lonely and burdens my heart greatly. 
We spent time with our students for the first time in a few weeks, last week. It was so good to see them all again. It will be painful to say good bye to them all, but it is only for a time.
So…that was the last little while. We will be in Manzini for another 10 days, and then we will go to south africa for 3 days and then on the 6 (I think) fly to atlanta…see you then
Prayer Requests
that we would run hard with the end in sight
that we would not be preoccupied by sorrow in leaving
Later days!
In Christ,
Mark
